Dennis Edwin Flegge Yardley enlisted with the 2/6 Bn, The South Staffordshire Regiment. He volunteered for service with the airborne forces and was successfully parachute jump trained on Parachute Course 26, RAF Ringway, 6 – 12 September 1942, listed as a L/Cpl. 

He then served in N.Africa and Italy with the airborne before going to the 1st Airborne Parachute Provost company (military police) and he is mentioned in story about Arnhem whereby he was the only officer to survive after a German attack. He was a member of No 4 Section, 1^st Airborne Division Provost Company at Arnhem. Dennis returned safely across The Rhine 26 September 1944.

Whilst serving with HQ section of his company, he went to Norway after Arnhem and is on the list for being awarded the freedom medal from the King of Norway as a thank you for liberating the country. The Norway Liberation Medal was listed in The London Gazette 19 March 1948. Dennis was also awarded The 1939-45 Star, The Africa Star, The Italy Star, The France/Germany Star, The Defence and War medals. Records suggest Dennis left the Army 14 December 1945.

Robert Cutmore (nephew) recalls:

"There is also a story told in the family that Dennis was trying to cross a river (could be relating to after the attack that left him alone) and he couldn’t cross because of a German who was patrolling this particular section. Anyway after a short while he snuck up on the guard and used a commando knife to kill him. Dennis noticed that he had a nice pair of shoes on that looked far more comfortable than the ones he was issued. He swapped them and they were his size! He was also there at Bikini Atol, while atomic bombs were being tested."